Around the state
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Explosion — Police suspect a drug operation may have been the source of an explosion that injured one person and broke glass at an apartment complex in Portland’s Centennial neighborhood. A bomb squad was dispatched about 1 a.m. Monday after officers responding to reports of a disturbance found evidence of the blast. Sgt. Pete Simpson said the injured person was taken from the scene before officers arrived. The person was dropped off at a hospital.
Floating Capitol? — Plans for a remodeling of the Oregon state Capitol call for it to float in case of earthquakes. The planners said the idea is to put dozens of what are called “base isolators” beneath the main building of the capitol so that it will move up to 4 feet rather than be torn apart in an earthquake. A team is working on a nearly $300 million proposed renovation project to upgrade the building seismically and mechanically and to make it more accessible to people with physical disabilities. The plans go on display Wednesday at a public meeting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Capitol. Next year, the Legislature is expected to consider an appropriation for the work.
Trending
New talks in strike — Both sides in a week-old strike by graduate teaching assistants at the University of Oregon have met for another mediation session. Union spokesman Justin Buchanan said the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation asked for the Monday afternoon session through a state mediator and the school agreed. Buchanan said he has no details on the negotiations. The teaching assistants walked out Dec. 2 after contract talks stalled over medical and maternity leave benefits. The talks come as students begin taking finals. The 1,500 teaching assistants represented by the union play a large role in conducting and grading final exams. The strikers want two weeks of paid medical or maternity leave a year.
Gas prices drop — The AAA auto club reports the average price of a gallon of gas in Oregon has fallen to $2.93. That’s down 8 cents in a week and 15 cents in a month. Some metro prices from the AAA’s Monday survey: Portland $2.92, Salem $2.92, Eugene-Springfield $2.92, and Medford-Ashland $2.94.
Newspaper litter — The Salem City Council is reviewing a proposed ordinance Monday to restrict how free community newspapers are delivered. In response to complaints about neighborhood litter, the ordinance would require that unsolicited written materials be placed on a porch or near the front door. Distributors also would be required to honor requests not to deliver unsolicited materials. The media company is working to reduce complaints so a new ordinance won’t be necessary.
Life sentencing — Portland Police say a 39-year-old man who pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and related charges in the Christmas 2012 killing of a woman has been sentenced to life in prison. Sgt. Pete Simpson said Michael James Kirkland pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated murder, felony strangulation, corpse abuse, burglary and theft in the Dec. 25, 2012, death of 33-year-old Jaime Lyn Larson. Officers found the woman’s body in the Park Terrace Apartments in southwest Portland. The man was arrested Jan. 3, 2013.